“Life will look different, but you won’t miss the old one.” Prior to becoming a mom, my friends with kids recited some version of this to me whenever I voiced anticipatory nostalgia for the freedom of life before baby. For me, it was freedom to be booked and busy, making the most of Milwaukee as a newlywed in a post-Covid world: seeing local theater, trying new restaurants, working from coffee shops, moseying through vintage stores, posting up at beer gardens, wandering the farmers market, settling into a new house. Life before baby was full.
Fast forward almost two years, and I find myself saying the same thing to other expectant parents. Sure, sleeping-in is so 2023, plans revolve around nap schedules, and I have to be mighty intentional about carving out quality time with anyone who isn’t my daughter (including myself). Life does indeed look different. I wouldn’t trade it.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
In fact, my daughter, Poppy, has become my very best excuse to reframe life’s fullness and pursue everyday delights: little treats, accessible art and culture, natural beauty, local libraries and bookshops, and spaces that allow my girl to be her unbridled self, more or less. Because of Poppy, I seek out easy excursions that are as novel for Pops as they are fulfilling for me and my husband.
These are our “play dates,” and the formula goes something like this: First, we energize. Then, we take ourselves somewhere special that we’ll all enjoy. Lastly, we treat ourselves to lunch – and get home by nap time.
Note: “Spontaneous” is not my middle name. I tend to plan for every contingency and potential discomfort: Too sunny or too breezy. No snack bar or no easy exit. Icky bathrooms or tricky parking. And that was pre-Poppy. So our play dates? Tight, intentional itineraries featuring stops that meet everyone’s needs and are worth everyone’s time. The cliché “timing is everything” is never more true than when you’re parenting a toddler.
Does my over-planning guarantee an outing that goes off without a hitch? Heck no. Even a control freak can only control so much. But if you’re a fellow rookie-ish parent looking to zhuzh-up your new way of living, walk with me. I’m doing the legwork on a series of play dates, and I’m happy to share the ups, downs and in-betweens with you.
Milwaukee Play Date #1: Smoothies, sculpture, seesaw and sandwiches – and home by nap time.
First Stop: Smoothies at Nona, Elm Grove
We lucked out with perfect weather for our inaugural Milwaukee Play Date. The sound of Poppy’s elated “Wheeee!” careened over the flap of wind through the open car windows. Not to be that mom, but I really hit the jackpot with Poppy. Her baseline is pure sunshine and zest. A friend once told me, “She’s like if heavy whipping cream were a person.”
We set a course for Nona in Elm Grove. Nona is a one-stop-shop for health and wellness goodies, but we went just for the smoothies. There are nearly 40 smoothie combos on the menu. One, the Billion Dollar Smoothie, isn’t actually a billion dollars – but it is nearly $30 for 32 ounces of superfood. We kept it simple: a Green Dream for me, a Funky Monkey for my husband and an all-fruit Mango Mama for Poppy. I appreciate that the all-fruit smoothies are available in a kid-friendly 10-ounce serving. Pops appreciates any “nummy” drink that’s all hers.
It’s not just the drinks that make Nona a great spot to kick off a play date. It’s also the whole vibe and amenities: stroller parking out front, a small shaded patio, a spacious second floor with room to wander and couches for lounging, plus an array of Magna Tiles and little books to entertain the kids.
“But caffeine!” you say? Nona has coffee too, though I wouldn’t call it the standard fare. Best to peruse the menu. There you’ll find you can infuse cold brew into any smoothie, perhaps giving you the best of both worlds.
Next Up: Firefly Grove Park & Mama Rosa, Wauwatosa
If you’re flooded with Milwaukee mom culture on social media like I am, no doubt your feed has been riddled (yes, riddled) with Wauwatosa’s new troll sculpture, Mama Rosa. She’s a towering, peaceful beauty by world-renowned Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo. At 24-feet high, Mama Rosa joins Dambo’s over 150 trolls across 20 countries. It’s a warm-fuzzy feeling to look at Mama Rosa with her bouquet of lamp posts and think that Tosa, of all places, has been graced with this gentle giant.
I was drawn to the fantastic whimsy of Mama Rosa. Poppy was drawn to the roller slide at the troll’s new home: Firefly Grove Park. Located at the corner of 116th and Gilbert, it’s a sprawling, impressive, play-filled park. The still-growing grass reflects the park’s newness and overall sense of possibility.
The upper slope of the park is meant for smaller children. There are swings, free-standing spinners, and a station with toddler favorites: a driving wheel, large mirror, and metal bells that make a terrific racket. At the park’s base is a more challenging play structure—a sort-of obstacle course for older kids that requires a certain level of coordination and strength.
As a parent following my little one to and fro, I found there was always a spot to perch nearby and observe her play without getting in the way. If inclined, there are opportunities to play alongside your child – like a bouncy modern seesaw (fun until you get seasick, like me). There are bike paths, covered tables for picnicking, and bathrooms on site. In short: lots to love and explore in Firefly Grove Park. One warning: shade is limited.
Last Stop: Lunch at The Chocolate Factory, Elm Grove
All played out, the last stop on our date was to refuel. The Chocolate Factory is a quick six minutes back to downtown Elm Grove and opens at 10:30 a.m. Mondays–Saturdays and 11 a.m. on Sundays. We love an early lunch. A Wisconsin institution since 1972, The Chocolate Factory is known for its sub sandwiches and ice cream. In my house, it’s also known for its pickle bar.
Dill pickle slices, banana peppers, pepperoncini, minced giardiniera – the stuff of superior sandwiches. During our play date, I learned that said pickles will tide over an antsy toddler. I also learned that kids meals at The Chocolate Factory come with applesauce. I should have packed a bib. We ordered turkey subs all around, my husband and I with lettuce, tomato, mayo and outrageous piles of peppers.
I wish I could say we saved room for ice cream, but alas. We browsed the case and noted a number of sugar-free options, should that tickle your fancy as a parent watching your kid’s sugar intake. As for Poppy, she settled for gleefully licking some ice cream wall decals before we could intervene (face palm). Such is toddler life.
Toward the end of any play date, as we inch closer to nap time, I know we either have to quit while we’re ahead or risk a meltdown that puts our quick-getaway skills to the test. I’m pleased to report that, on this particular day, we outpaced the big feelings. Poppy fell soundly asleep on the drive home and kindly transferred to her crib for a long, luxurious nap. As play dates go, that’s the toddler equivalent of “we should do this again sometime.” We absolutely will – and I’ll let you know how it goes.
